§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he expects to submit the lower Severn estuary special protection area to the European Commission under the wild birds directive;
(2) when he expects to submit the middle Severn estuary special protection area application to the European Commission environment directorate.
§ Mr. BaldryThe former Nature Conservancy Council's proposal for the designation of the lower Severn estuary as a special protection area for birds is under consideration within Government. The case for designation will be decided jointly by my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Secretary of State for Wales. The European Commission will be notified of the decision in due course.